Achieving Our Goals With Full Day Kindergarten!

Goal 1: To continuously improve student growth and

achievement.

Full Day Kindergarten

Building the foundationDuring the first few years

of school, a child’s foundation, for his/her

entire academic career, is established.

What do you think kindergarten students do at school?

PlayStories

Paint/colorRecessSnackABC’s

Numbers

Recommended Instructional TimeSubject Recommended

Minutes/DayCurrent Minutes/Day

Source

Reading Instruction

90 30 Florida Center for Reading Research

Math 60 20 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)

Science 30+ 0 Scott Foresman Science

Phonemic Awareness/ Phonics

30+ 10 ISBE ‘s“Principal’s Flip Chart” (2005), Florida Center for Reading Research

Writing 30+ 0 ISBE‘s “Principal’s Flip Chart” (2005), Florida Center for Reading Research

Total 240 60

Current Reality • Limited instructional

time to teach district curriculum

• Primarily whole group instruction

• Instruction devoted solely to academics

• Limited special offerings

Challenges

• No science, limited writing experience

• Limited time for small group instruction

• Limited time for social interaction/ centers

• No time for technology or physical education

Increasing Expectations With New Core StandardsIL Learning Standards New Common Core

Count to 30 Count on from a given number

Investigate addition and subtraction Fluent in addition and subtract

Recognize and identify basic shapes Analyze, compare, compose 2 and 3D shapes

Explore word relationships, demonstrate understanding of frequently occurring verbs and adjectives, distinguish shades of meaning among verbs

Identify beginning and ending sounds. Isolate and pronounce the beginning, middle and ending sounds.

Begin to write simple sentences. Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion, informative and narrative pieces.

Represent stories through pictures, words and play

Explore digital tools to produce and publish writing

Today’s kindergarten students will be the first students to take the new common core assessment as 3rd graders.

Examining Full Day Kindergarten• Research says that all day kindergarten…– Increases academic achievement– Builds the foundation for school/life success– Provides time for mastery of

skills– Provides time for teacher

directed cooperative group work and learning centers

Source: "Full Day Kindergarten - Expanding Learning Opportunities." West Ed Policy Brief. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 July 2011. <www.wested.org/online_pubs/po-05-01.pdf>.

Connecting With the Dunlap VisionDunlap Vision Full Day Kindergarten PromotesCritical thinkers Development of higher order thinking skills

Effective communicators Stronger language skills

Skilled collaborators Better social skills

Responsible & culturally aware citizens Greater empathy

Self-motivated learners More imagination

Greater self-control

Lower levels of stress

Source: "Full Day Kindergarten - Expanding Learning Opportunities." West Ed Policy Brief. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 July 2011. <www.wested.org/online_pubs/po-05-01.pdf>.

Benefits of Full Day Kindergarten• More formal and informal instructional time for core subjects. • More time in teacher-directed individual work and learning

centers that encourages cognitive development. • More time to differentiate instruction.• Time to develop children's social and emotional skills, including

conflict resolution strategies. • Provides an environment that favors a child-centered,

developmentally appropriate approach. • Enhanced academic achievement in the areas

of Math and Reading lasting through 5th grade.• Closing of the achievement gap for ELL and

economically disadvantaged learners. • No mid-day transportation issues.

Sample Full Day Schedule: Total 420 MinutesTime Subject/Activity Minutes

7:45-7:50 Unpack 5

7:50-8:05 Calendar (Math) 15

8:05-8:15 Phonemic Awareness 10

8:15-8:35 Phonics Instruction 20

8:35-9:00 Math (direct instruction) 25

9:00-9:10 Bathroom Break, Decodable Books 10

9:10-9:30 Recess 20

9:30-9:40 Handwriting Practice10

9:40-10:10 Language Arts (LBD)30

10:10-10:30 Shared Writing and Reading Activities 20

10:30-11:00 Science, Unit Activities 30

11:00-11:50 Lunch, Recess, Bathroom Break50

11:50-12:10 Quiet Reading 20

12:10-12:30 Story 20

12:30-1:00 Language Centers, Guided Reading 30

1:00-1:30 Special – Music, Art, Technology or PE 30

1:30-2:00 Bathroom Break, Snack, Recess30

2:00-2:25 Differentiation, Math Centers 25

2:25-2:45 Pack Up, Daily Review, Dismissal 15

Strengthening Core Standards

Count to 100 by 1’s and

10’s.

Problem solving: What comes

next?

Adding details to strengthen

writing.

Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and

understanding.

More Time!With a full day program.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Language Math Science PE Small Groups/Centers

3025

100

30

130

65

30 30

60

Minutes

half day

full day

What Would Full Day K Look Like?• EDK no longer needed (integrated within full day

program)• Direct instruction of the core curriculum will occur

during the mornings.• Half day students would attend mornings in a full

day class.• Afternoons devoted to: – Review, enrichment, extensions – Reading and math groups, small group instruction– Centers (math, science, language, technology)– Specials

What Resources Are Needed to Implement Full Day Kindergarten?

Full Day Kindergarten Expenditures

Added Cost

Revenue or Savings

Balance

Projected Cost $225,000 $225,000

Additional ADA $107,213 -$117,787

Transportation Savings

$85,000 -$32,787

Total cost to implement full day kindergarten is $32,787

Educational Priorities• High School Enhancements– Expanded PLTW & AP offerings– Online/virtual learning

• Middle School Enhancements– Re-designed exploratory offerings with the addition of

PLTW (Gateway to Technology), Foreign Language for all, and Global/Economic Awareness course

• Recommended Elementary School Enhancement– Implementation of full day kindergarten

Timeline

Can we successfully meet the rigor and expectations of the common core and 21st Century learning without all day kindergarten?

Summary• ½ day program won’t meet the new standards• Research-based strategy delivers results!• High parent expectation for full day kindergarten

Classroom space already allocated when District boundaries were revised

• Needed strategy; our journey from good to great• Minimal cost (under $33,000)

compared to the expected return on investment!